Page 47 - AA 2024

Tunisia

Tunisia Fruit and Vegetable Market Analysis

• Increasing consumer demand for
affordable fruits such as bananas,
oranges, and naartjie, as well as
increased demand for derived products
such as fruit juices and jams, with
rising consumer expenditure on fresh
vegetables, have led to the expansion of
the fruits and vegetables market in the
country.
• The Tunisian fruit and vegetable
market is one of the strategic sectors
of the country’s economy. In 2021,
Tunisia produced 3.13 million metric
tons of vegetables, 1,41 million metric
tons of tomatoes, and 345,000 metric
tons of dates. Tunisian agriculture
will contribute to 9.1% of the GDP in
2021. Olives, dates, and fresh fruits are
grown for international and domestic exported fruits in 2021, with volumes promoting vegetable breeding an
consumption. Agricultural produce exceeding 12,000 metric tons, followed increase in food consumption, and
contributes to 6.0% of the total export by peaches with 9,200 metric tons. the need for sustainable agriculture
earnings in the region. Morocco, Libya, France, Italy, Germany, development are some of the aspects
• Furthermore, Tunisia is the second- and Spain are some of the major driving market expansion.
largest exporter of organic products, importers of Tunisian fruits, whereas • The cultivation of processing
with an area of 297,137 hectares in 2021. Italy, France, the Netherlands, and tomatoes occupies a strategic position
Its share of total agricultural land is 3.0%, Germany are the major importers of in the agricultural development policy
mainly olive, date, vegetable, aromatic, Tunisian vegetables. of the country. According to the Ministry
medicinal plants, and vines. About • High-knowledge-intensive services, of agriculture, the sector mobilizes more
80.0% of the Tunisian organic produce such as information and communications than 10,000 farmers, with a total area that
is exported, and it is the only African technology, business services, and exceeded 16,000 hectares in 2021, for
country that has the recognition of digital financial services, are among an estimated production of 1.42 million
equivalence with the EU and Switzerland the primary reasons restraining metric tons.
pertaining to organic agriculture. export diversification in the country.
• The rising consumption of fresh
Leveraging high-knowledge-intensive tomatoes, as these products are easy,
Tunisia Fruit and Vegeta- services to improve productivity and fast sources of energy and nutrition
ble Market Trends competitiveness will be essential to the for consumers, is one of the segment’s
country’s value-added diversification
Rise in Export of Fruits and Vegetables primary driving forces. Thus, the
and growth.
• The exceptionally dry climate Vegetable Production Dominates production of vegetables in the region
of Tunisia contributes to a very low the Market has been significantly increasing in
incidence of aflatoxin in dried fruits, recent years, showing production
making the country one of the major • Tunisia leads in the production of growth.
exporters of dried fruits in that region. vegetables compared to fruits, which
The geography and the proximity to accounted for 3.13 million metric tons Tunisia Fruit and
large international markets, like the in 2021. This was an 8.6% increase
European, Middle Eastern, and North compared to the production volume in Vegetable Market News
African (MENA) regions, have made 2018. Fruit production volume reached • April 2022: Tunisian exports of fruits
Tunisia the gateway for other African 2.47 million metric tons in 2021. and vegetables to Libya have gone up
countries. Minimum support prices, • Tomatoes, onion, chili, pepper, through the Ras Ajdair border post, with
market liberalization, enhanced rural carrots, pumpkins, and cucumber are a 23% year-on-year increase in July.
transport infrastructure, and incentives some of the vegetables grown majorly in Tunisian exports to Libya reached 3,727
for investment are also driving Tunisia’s the region, among which tomatoes and tons. According to the Observatory for
fruit and vegetable market. potatoes are the important comestibles of Tunisian Farmers, the increase is due to
• According to the data, pomegranates Tunisians. Non-profit organizations and the export of watermelons to Libya by
and watermelons were Tunisia’s most various regional regulatory authorities 212%, which is 2,370 tons.
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